65 Roses and a Trunki

65 Roses

In 1965, Mary Weiss volunteered to work for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust after learning that her three children suffered from the disease. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic illness that affects the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems. It clogs the lungs with thick, sticky mucus and impairs the functioning of the pancreas. The result is a life of relentless physiotherapy, nebulisers, antibiotics and hospital admissions of varying severity. While treatments are improving and evolving, it kills most sufferers in their youth or in their prime.

When Richard was diagnosed, Mary Weiss moved the family from Montreal to Palm Beach in Florida on the advice of her doctor, who had told Mary that her children would be likely to die before they were 10 years old and the sea air would give them a better quality of life in what little time they had left.

One day, Mary's four-year-old son Richard said to her:

– I know who you’re working for.

Mary was horrified. At the time, Richard confessed his knowledge of his mother's work, her eldest child, Arthur, was seven and the youngest, Anthony, was 16 months old, so she had not told any of them they suffered from cystic fibrosis or that they would be likely to die young. Her relentless phone calls aimed at raising money for the Trust were often done from home and now, confronted by her son, she feared the worst. He must have heard her use the words ‘cystic fibrosis’ many times and perhaps he had learned what it was and that he had ...